Champion 2020 Pinot Noir born in Stand Out Vineyard

The producers of the 2021 Marlborough Wine Show’s winning wine had another hit in the competition this year, taking home the title of Champion 2020 Pinot Noir. 

Saint Clair Family Estate picked up the trophy, officially known as the Classic Oak Products Champion Pinot Noir, current vintage trophy, for their Pioneer Block 15 Strip Block Pinot Noir 2020.

Senior Winemaker Kyle Thompson said he was delighted to take the title, beating out some healthy competition.

“There’s a lot of very talented Pinot Noir producers in this valley, and so it’s not an easy trophy to achieve,” he says.

The wine is one Saint Clair has been making for many years, with fruit taken from the Delta Vineyard near the Waihopai River in the Southern Valleys.

“It is one of those vineyards that stand out as being very consistent, both in its fruit quality and flavour profile or vineyard signature,” Kyle says.

It’s slightly inland location means it is subject to cooler days and warmer nights than those closer to the sea.

“The diurnal shift is very influential with flavour development in Pinot Noir, and I find there’s more perfumed notes coming through during aging than other vineyards,” Kyle says. “Another notable signature flavour from this vineyard is black olive.”

The vineyard’s aspect, soil makeup, situation in relation to the sea and consistency make it perfect for reaching the high expectations Saint Clair has for Pinot Noir

“Pioneer Block 15 is truly one of the great Pinot Noir vineyards of Marlborough and we’re lucky to have it,” Kyle says. 

Berries are treated gently in the winery following early morning harvest, eventually being placed in French oak barriques for around 10 months before bottling.

Trophy sponsor Classic Oak Products’ Susan Macks says the company enjoyed being able to support an up and coming Pinot Noir region.

“The increasing momentum in Marlborough as new clones were planted and production moved toward making more premium Pinot was something we wanted to ‘get in behind’,” she says 

“It has been a truly rewarding journey … to see the growing confidence and maturity in the local Marlborough industry and be a critical partner in this.”